Plans on a sailboat seem to change with the wind.
We are staying in Cartagena a few more days. Guin is flying back to the states with her dad for the summer. He is arriving here on Sunday. Guin is excited, and sharing her love is part of having a child that isn’t biologically yours. It’s all good. Her dad is understanding of our life-style and I’m sure they will have a great summer.
The thought of not having Guin around for the summer is a strange one, I’m wondering how Sam will take it? I’m hoping she doesn’t freak having to just deal with me all the time :) They have never been apart for this long before. ‘La vida es aci’ (Life is so). Sam will visit her parents later in the summer and bring Guin back to us in the San Blas. This will give Sam and I a good opportunity to knock out some boat projects. Sam is pretty good with the varnish!
I know a number of people have been asking about charters and it’s time for us to start working. I’ve been trying to figure out the pricing, and for the moment I’m going to keep it simple. A 40’ boat and captain usually costs about 7k a week. Frankly I wouldn’t know what to do with all that money so we are going to ask $1500.00/couple, plus a “provision” fee which will be a few hundred depending on food & alcohol requirements. We are not doing “luxury” charters so helping yourself to a snack or fishing for dinner may be a requirement. We will cover the cooking and dishes. The concept of “Splendid” charters is the same as when I was chartering on Namaste. My goal is to teach people/families how to cruise on a budget. Project BlueSphere is a key that allows dreamers access to the reality of cruising, and our charters is just the next step, a ‘slice of life’ if you will.
Getting to the San Blas is pretty easy. Flights from the states to Panama city are cheap. Once in Panama one would have to take a taxi to the smaller (Allbroke) airport and take a $40.00 shuttle (flight) to Porvaneer in the San Blas where we would be waiting. From there we would cruise around the San Blas for the week and would return to Porvaneer for your return trip home. Reservations for the shuttle can be made online through Air Panama. I did half a dozen charters in the San Blas and all my charters assured me it was an amazing experience.
We are going to sail for the Rosario islands on Tuesday. They are about 10 miles away. I need to give Splendid a bottom cleaning before our trip to the San Blas and it is way too dirty in Cartagena harbor. We will spend a day or two in the Rosario’s before making the 200 mile passage for San Blas. We will be without email for a few weeks but I’m hoping to be able to get logs posted through my Orbcomm system. I hear there is Cellular service in parts of the San Blas now and will get a cell phone is Panama as soon as I can.
Cheers
Sail far and live slowly.
Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
alexi know exactly what your feelingZPLccd
Big mike (Sam’s dad). It will be weird 4 sure. Sam will see you later in the summer. Say hi to Ronnie 4 me.
Ahhhh… Changes… They say, who ever they are, that if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger. You and Sam will find wonderful things to keep you connected and grounded. Guin will be fine with Big Mike and back in Sam’s hands soon.
Best of luck with EVERYTHING. I’ll be checking up on you. We are just trying to stay afloat without oil sticking to us. So far, so good for us, but our hearts are breaking… So many lives have been changed and SO MUCH LOSS with the wildlife, above and below the water. My God when are we going to learn? How do we change it?
We have been trying so hard to get EVERYONE to make less of a foot print. Now they may listen. Maybe, just maybe.
Stay in touch, we’ll do the same. Enjoy every precious moment.
ALex,
Emily and I were just wondering if you have seen or been affected by the BP oil spill in the gulf at all. What are the locals saying or doing to get prepared if it does somehow get washed up on the beaches of Columbia? Any other cruisers seen or been affected by it at all? It is such a tragedy that this could happen to such a beautiful place. On a lighter note, We are moving to Corpus Christi Texas so when and if you guys are in town up there we still have that jeep you guys can borrow and of course a place to rest.
Cheers
Chris and Emily
Chris,
no signs of the spill, I’ll be sure to stay away from it. It breaks my heart and perhaps “we ” will learn, however more likely perhaps not.
Hi Alex,
Lance and I wanted to say hey! Lance has Sweet Treat, 34 foot Irwin out of Noank, Ct. We’re interested in the charter for sure! I’m a teacher so doing it during vaca would be awesome! :)
Bea & Lance,
I love Noank, I have good friends there and bought Namaste off of a mooring in Noank. Send me an email and we could work out some particulars (alexdorsey at gmail)
Cheers.
Well we are off to the San Blas in the morning, check out the spot. I’m so excited! I’m expecting it to take a while as the wind looks light and variable. Will send in a log when we get there.
Sail far and live slowly!
Alex, have been following your blog since 2003, and have both your DVD’s and watched them many times. Own my own Cheoy Lee 41. Definitely interested in chartering aboard for a week this summer and meeting you and Sam, seeing your Cheoy Lee and sailing the San Blas. Please contact me by e-mail so we can coordinate a date. Thanks. Rob. e-mail yachtastraea@yahoo.com